Best Small Towns in Arkansas
The best small towns in Arkansas are Eureka Springs for a whole town on the National Register, Mountain View for Ozark folk music, Jasper for the Buffalo National River and its elk, Murfreesboro for digging your own diamonds, and Helena-West Helena for Delta blues. Most sit in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, with lakes and trout rivers close by. Here are 10 worth the trip, grouped by region.
- Best season: April to June and October; October for elk, blues and fall color
- Regions: Ozark Mountains, Ozark Foothills, Arkansas River Valley, Ouachitas & Southwest, Delta
- Closest big cities: Little Rock, Memphis, Tulsa, Springfield (MO)
| Town | Region | Best for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Springs | Ozark Mountains | architecture, history, ghost tours, weekend getaways, hiking and mountain biking | Northwest Arkansas National (XNA), about 1 hr |
| Mountain View | Ozark Foothills | live folk music, crafts, caving, trout fishing, mountain biking | Little Rock (LIT), about 2 hr 15 min |
| Jasper | Ozark Mountains | floating, hiking, elk watching, waterfalls, stargazing | Harrison (HRO), about 35 min |
| Murfreesboro | Ouachitas & Southwest | diamond hunting, families, fishing, lake days | Texarkana (TXK), about 1 hr 30 min |
| Helena-West Helena | Delta | blues fans, Civil War history, music festivals, Delta road trips | Memphis (MEM), about 1 hr 20 min |
| Mammoth Spring | Ozark Foothills | trout fishing, river floats, families, short Ozark stops | Springfield (SGF), about 2 hr 15 min |
| Heber Springs | Ozark Foothills | boating, trout fishing, lake weekends, hiking, winter swan watching | Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Mount Ida | Ouachitas & Southwest | rockhounding, families, boating, fishing, mountain biking, hiking | Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 45 min |
| Dardanelle | Arkansas River Valley | hiking, mountain views, fishing, birding, history | Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 30 min |
| Washington | Ouachitas & Southwest | history, Civil War sites, families, spring flowers | Texarkana (TXK), about 45 min |
Ozark Mountains
1. Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs grew around more than 140 springs, and in 1970 the whole city was listed on the National Register. Visitors come for the winding Victorian downtown, E. Fay Jones's Thorncrown Chapel and the 1886 Crescent Hotel. Christ of the Ozarks and a big-cat refuge sit just outside town.
Pop. 2,166 (2020 Census) Carroll County Founded 1880 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Northwest Arkansas National (XNA), about 1 hr Known for: healing springs, Victorian downtown, Thorncrown Chapel, Crescent Hotel, Christ of the Ozarks
- Best for: architecture, history, ghost tours, weekend getaways, hiking and mountain biking
- Don't miss: Thorncrown Chapel; 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa; Historic downtown and Basin Spring Park
- Heads up: Thorncrown Chapel is closed January and February, and downtown parking is tight; use the trolley.
2. Jasper
Jasper is the small seat of Newton County, deep in the Boston Mountains. It's the base for floating the upper Buffalo National River, the first national river, and for watching the elk herd in Boxley Valley. Hemmed-In Hollow, Lost Valley and Scenic Highway 7 are all close.
Pop. 547 (2020 Census) Newton County Nearest airport: Harrison (HRO), about 35 min Known for: Buffalo National River, Boxley Valley elk, Scenic Highway 7
- Best for: floating, hiking, elk watching, waterfalls, stargazing
- Don't miss: Buffalo National River; Boxley Valley elk; Hemmed-In Hollow
- Heads up: The upper Buffalo is usually floatable only in spring; check river gauges first.
Ozark Foothills
3. Mountain View
Mountain View is the Stone County seat and calls itself the Folk Music Capital of the World. Pickers gather on the courthouse square most weekend nights in season, and the Ozark Folk Center keeps traditional crafts alive. Blanchard Springs, the Syllamo trails and White River trout are close by.
Pop. 2,877 (2020 Census) Stone County Founded 1890 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Little Rock (LIT), about 2 hr 15 min Known for: Folk Music Capital of the World, Ozark Folk Center, courthouse square jams, Blanchard Springs Caverns
- Best for: live folk music, crafts, caving, trout fishing, mountain biking
- Don't miss: Ozark Folk Center State Park; Courthouse square and Pickin' Park; Jimmy Driftwood Barn
- Heads up: Blanchard Springs Caverns closes after the 2026 season for renovations; reopening is expected in 2028.
4. Mammoth Spring
Mammoth Spring sits on the Missouri line in Fulton County, around a spring that pours out about 9 million gallons an hour. The state park, its 1886 depot museum and a 1903 federal fish hatchery are all free. Below town, the cold Spring River is known for trout and floats.
Pop. 929 (2020 Census) Fulton County Nearest airport: Springfield (SGF), about 2 hr 15 min Known for: one of the world's largest springs, Spring River trout and floats, 1886 Frisco depot
- Best for: trout fishing, river floats, families, short Ozark stops
- Don't miss: Mammoth Spring State Park; Frisco Depot Museum; Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery
- Heads up: The depot museum closes each year from December 14 through February 28.
5. Heber Springs
Heber Springs is the Cleburne County seat beside 40,500-acre Greers Ferry Lake. Below the dam President Kennedy dedicated in 1963, the Little Red River is a premier trout stream. Sugarloaf Mountain and the mineral springs in Spring Park are right in town.
Pop. 6,969 (2020 Census) Cleburne County Founded 1882 (incorporated as Sugar Loaf; renamed 1910) Nearest airport: Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Greers Ferry Lake, Little Red River trout, JFK's 1963 dam dedication, Sugarloaf Mountain
- Best for: boating, trout fishing, lake weekends, hiking, winter swan watching
- Don't miss: Greers Ferry Lake; Little Red River trout fishing; Sugarloaf Mountain
- Heads up: The Garner Visitor Center at the dam closes in winter.
Ouachitas & Southwest
6. Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is the small seat of Pike County and the gateway to Crater of Diamonds State Park, where visitors keep whatever gems they dig up. The country's largest diamond, the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam, came from here in 1924. Lake Greeson and Daisy State Park are just north.
Pop. 1,495 (2020 Census) Pike County Nearest airport: Texarkana (TXK), about 1 hr 30 min Known for: Crater of Diamonds State Park, Uncle Sam diamond, Lake Greeson
- Best for: diamond hunting, families, fishing, lake days
- Don't miss: Crater of Diamonds State Park; Lake Greeson; Daisy State Park
- Heads up: Diamond finds average about two a day across all visitors, so treat a find as a bonus.
7. Mount Ida
Mount Ida is the Montgomery County seat, a town of about 1,000 people in the middle of the Ouachita National Forest. It calls itself the quartz crystal capital, and visitors can dig their own crystals at pay mines or free at the Forest Service's Crystal Vista. Lake Ouachita, Arkansas' largest lake, and the Womble Trail are close by.
Pop. 996 (2020 Census) Montgomery County Founded 1842 (post office; incorporated 1890) Nearest airport: Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 45 min Known for: Quartz crystal digging, Lake Ouachita, Ouachita National Forest, World Championship Quartz Crystal Dig
- Best for: rockhounding, families, boating, fishing, mountain biking, hiking
- Don't miss: Wegner Crystal Mines; Crystal Vista; Lake Ouachita
- Heads up: Crystal digging is muddy work; bring gloves, old clothes and water.
8. Washington
Washington, a town of 94, is almost entirely Historic Washington State Park. Its 1836 courthouse was Arkansas' Confederate capitol from 1863 to 1865, and blacksmith James Black made the Bowie knife here. Tours, surrey rides and a weapons museum fill a half day.
Pop. 94 (2020 Census) Hempstead County Founded 1824 (incorporated 1880) Nearest airport: Texarkana (TXK), about 45 min Known for: Historic Washington State Park, Confederate state capital 1863-65, Bowie knife, Southwest Trail
- Best for: history, Civil War sites, families, spring flowers
- Don't miss: 1836 Courthouse (Confederate Capitol); Blacksmith Shop; B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum
- Heads up: Williams Tavern is closed Mondays, and surrey rides run Tuesday through Saturday only.
Delta
9. Helena-West Helena
Helena-West Helena is the Phillips County seat on the Mississippi River. KFFA's King Biscuit Time has aired here since 1941, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival fills Cherry Street each October. The free Delta Cultural Center and a string of Civil War sites round it out.
Pop. 9,519 (2020 Census) Phillips County Founded 1833 (Helena founded; merged with West Helena 2006) Nearest airport: Memphis (MEM), about 1 hr 20 min Known for: King Biscuit Time radio, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Delta blues, 1863 Battle of Helena
- Best for: blues fans, Civil War history, music festivals, Delta road trips
- Don't miss: Delta Cultural Center; King Biscuit Blues Festival; Freedom Park
- Heads up: The Delta Cultural Center museums are closed Sundays and Mondays.
Arkansas River Valley
10. Dardanelle
Dardanelle is a Yell County seat on the Arkansas River, incorporated in 1855. Mount Nebo State Park's bluff-top trails and cabins rise just west of town, and Lake Dardanelle spreads out upriver. Council Oaks Park marks an 1823 meeting with Cherokee leaders and the Trail of Tears water route.
Pop. 4,517 (2020 Census) Yell County Founded 1855 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Little Rock (LIT), about 1 hr 30 min Known for: Mount Nebo State Park, Lake Dardanelle, Council Oaks, True Grit
- Best for: hiking, mountain views, fishing, birding, history
- Don't miss: Mount Nebo State Park; Lake Dardanelle State Park; Council Oaks Park and Dardanelle Rock
- Heads up: Highway 155 up Mount Nebo has 11 hairpin curves; trailers and RVs over 24 feet are prohibited.
- April–June: Spring is the start of the season in the Ozarks. The Ozark Folk Center opens each April, and Mountain View’s Arkansas Folk Festival is in April.
- October: Elk bugle in Boxley Valley near Jasper, and the National Park Service runs elk-viewing weekends there in October. Helena-West Helena holds the King Biscuit Blues Festival the same month.
- Summer and winter: Summer is lake and trout season at Heber Springs, Mammoth Spring and Mount Ida. Winter is quiet, and some seasonal attractions close, so check before you go.
What is the prettiest small town in Arkansas?
Eureka Springs, nicknamed the Stairstep Town for its streets on steep Ozark hillsides, is listed in full on the National Register. For scenery outside town, Jasper and the Buffalo River win.
What small towns in Arkansas are best for a weekend?
Eureka Springs, and Mountain View for music and caves. From Memphis, Helena-West Helena makes an easy blues weekend.
What is the smallest town in Arkansas worth visiting?
Washington had 94 residents in 2020, and most of the town is Historic Washington State Park. It served as the Confederate state capital from 1863 to 1865.
Where can you dig for diamonds or crystals in Arkansas?
Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro lets you keep any gem you find in its 37.5-acre field. Mount Ida, also in the Ouachitas, calls itself the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World.